Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 95: Chapter 19 Intentional Matchmaking

"Hmm?"

Li Linfeng thought he must have misheard.

Shen Qing neatly refolded the yellowed stack of pages and repeated, "Master, I have memorized them. Please teach me the killing technique."

Li Linfeng gave Shen Qing a dubious look.

He knew Shen Qing was not the frivolous type; on the contrary, in his impression, he was a man of few words and great steadiness.

Now he suddenly claimed to have memorized it all—could it be that he indeed had?

Li Linfeng was not one to jump to conclusions. Without saying much more, he casually drew a yellowed page and asked, "What are the most important acupoints in the abdomen?"

"The abdomen has four major acupoints: the Qi Hai Acupoint, located about an inch and a half below the navel on the midline; the Guan Yuan point, three inches below the navel; the Zhongji point, four inches below the navel on the front midline of the body; and the Shen Que point, in the center of the navel, with the Tianshu point positioned two inches to the side of the navel."

Endowed with the ability to "Never Forget," Shen Qing needed only a brief recollection to visualize all the content recorded on those pages in his mind, clear and distinct.

Li Linfeng was utterly astonished.

He found it hard to believe and proceeded to quiz Shen Qing on several other key phrases and meanings used in Bone Refining.

These phrases were all coined by him; no one in the entire world understood what they meant more clearly than he did, and it was impossible for Shen Qing to have known them in advance.

Yet, Shen Qing recited them without a hitch, responding to each question without any hesitation.

At this moment, Li Linfeng could not merely describe his feelings as astonishment.

It was nothing short of miraculous!

No wonder he was so perceptive—this was pure, natural intelligence!

In such a brief time, Shen Qing had surprised him again and again, leaving Li Linfeng at a loss for words.

Shen Qing handed the neatly folded pages back to Li Linfeng and said, "Master."

The scene fell into a brief silence.

After a long pause and a moment of distraction, Li Linfeng finally came to terms with the fact that Shen Qing had memorized everything.

He calmly accepted the yellowed pages from Shen Qing and said, "Since you have memorized them all, I will have A Fu prepare the medicinal bath and teach you the killing technique."

"Very well, thank you, Master."

...

The ingredients Li Linfeng used in this medicinal bath inflicted excruciating pain on Shen Qing.

Soaking in the medicinal liquid was like being in boiling oil, with every inch of his body penetrated and tormented by the powerful medicine, reaching all the way to the marrow.

Eventually, Shen Qing felt such unbearable pain that beads of cold sweat the size of soybeans began to fall from his body.

Fortunately, Li Linfeng was by his side, pointing out some endurance methods that helped him absorb the medicinal power and refine his bones all over again.

Otherwise, Shen Qing doubted he could have persevered.

"Once you no longer feel any pain, and your bones are as firm and resilient as steel, your Bone Refining will be complete, and you will have cultivated the Martial Bone," Li Linfeng said leisurely, standing beside Shen Qing. "This training method isn't cheap. Going forward, you'll take two medicinal baths daily, costing two taels of silver each."

Even as a direct disciple, practicing Martial Arts and consuming medicines came at a cost.

For Li Linfeng to teach his special skills and ask for money was only natural, and the practice was common throughout Taiping County; there was nothing to fuss about.

Shen Qing did not complain much.

In the following days, Shen Qing immersed himself in learning and practiced the Wind Defying Finger killing technique at Linfeng Hall.

Li Linfeng did not hold back, teaching Shen Qing with all his heart, treating him as his own.

In no time at all, Shen Qing's progress in the Wind Defying Finger technique improved by leaps and bounds, increasing several times over.

Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Small Success)

Progress: 201/300 points

Note: Continuous practice may lead to the awakening of the "One Finger Seal Throat" skill—killing invisibly, taking lives in one strike.

If it went at this rate, he would be able to master the Wind Defying Finger within a month.

Shen Qing couldn't help but feel even more excited inside.

After practicing until evening, just like always, Shen Qing said goodbye to his aunt Shen Xiu and Li Linfeng before leaving Linfeng Hall for the Outer City.

After sending Shen Qing off, his aunt Shen Xiu saw Li Lingchan coming over to discuss Martial Arts with Li Linfeng and suddenly thought of something.

If she remembered correctly, Shen Qing was almost fifteen and Li Lingchan was fourteen.

Their ages were quite compatible.

Shen Qing, though of modest origin with no significant family wealth, was very capable.

Li Lingchan came from a good background, her family was affluent, and she was quite presentable.

It was a time of need for Linfeng Hall, and if the two could be united in marriage, it would indeed be a joyous affair.

She suppressed the idea in her heart and, after Li Lingchan had left, seemed to casually ask Li Linfeng, "Master, you have many acquaintances outside; do you know of any young ladies of marriageable age that come from a good family?"

Li Linfeng didn't pay much mind and casually replied, "Why? Are you thinking of matchmaking for someone?"

Shen Xiu walked up to the robust arm of Li Linfeng and said, "My nephew is not young anymore and there is no elder in the family to worry about this. I want to find someone for him so that he can focus and be more dedicated to his work later on."

"I'll take a good look at this when I'm free later. I still have quite a few miscellaneous things to deal with right now." Li Linfeng nodded noncommittally.

Shen Xiu lowered her voice and asked, "Master, what do you think about Lingchan?"

"Lingchan?" Li Linfeng suddenly raised his head, looking at Shen Xiu.

Shen Xiu, unafraid, met Li Linfeng's gaze and said, "Their ages are similar, and my nephew is your direct disciple. Wouldn't their union be great happiness?"

Li Linfeng thought for a moment and suddenly felt it was quite suitable.

He was in need of people now, and Shen Qing was starting to show promise, having great natural talent.

If he became his son-in-law, without a doubt, he would cultivate him even more carefully, and in the future, he might even take over his position.

This was something that could be done.

But thinking of his daughter's temperament, Li Linfeng frowned and said, "I'll ask their opinions when they come tomorrow. If Lingchan does not agree, then let's forget this, and I'll find someone suitable for your nephew."

"As you will, my lord," Shen Xiu said.

"Hm."

In fact, Shen Xiu's words had opened up a new train of thought for Li Linfeng.

He felt that even if his daughter didn't agree, it was good if someone outside did. Marriage alliances were a good strategy.

...

Late at night.

Inside the shanty area, the hunters from Hongjiazhai patrolled according to their established routes as usual.

The two patrollers, one old and one young, each carried a small gong in their hands.

"Niu Dan, how's it going? Are you getting used to your first patrol?" asked the hunter walking behind, carrying a bow and arrow, with a smile.

The boy named Niu Dan chuckled, "Of course, I'm used to it. Don't underestimate me; back when I was in the village, I also went hunting in the mountains following my father."

"This is not the same as hunting in the mountains. The game is afraid of people, but here..."

He hadn't finished speaking when a shadow suddenly charged out of the dark, plunging a knife straight into his heart, cutting his words short as his figure came to an abrupt halt.

The young man who was walking in front heard something wrong behind him, turned his head, and his face drastically changed.

He hurried to ring the gong, but quickly a gaunt hand reached out from the darkness, grabbed his neck, and hoisted him up high.

"I heard there's a new gang here from Hong Shan, very fierce, but is this all they amount to? Hang them up, then send a message to prepare a hundred taels by tomorrow noon and give up the spot. Otherwise, my Eagle will let them understand the meaning of 'blood flows into rivers.'"

Crack!

With a sharp twist, the man effortlessly broke the young man's neck.